Conversation amongst Lotus lovers

Team owners Rob Walker and Colin Chapman seem to have a nice conversation with journalist Gérard “Jabby” Crombac behind the new Lotus 72-Ford (pretty, isn’t it) driven by John Miles, who you can spot just behind the Swiss journalist, who was a friend of Chapman, ahead of the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps (picture-above by Paul-Henri Cahier).

Lead Lotus driver Jochen Rindt, who had qualified second behind Jackie Stewart’s March 701, had chosen to race the “old” Lotus 49-Ford, but suffered an engine failure on lap 10, while his team mate John Miles, qualified his new 72 in thirteenth, and retired with a broken gearbox.

Rob Walker entered a Lotus 49-Ford here in Belgium (picture-below) but his driver Graham Hill, the former double F1 World Champion who had left Team Lotus, was also forced to retire with a broken engine. Later in the season a Lotus 72-Ford was entered by Rob Walker Racing, but only 7 points were scored during the season.